Page 22 - Brislington FC v Clevedon Town 280821

Clevedon Town FC - A History cont..

to sell off the ground, pay off their remaining debts and build a purpose built stadium from the
proceeds.
A er the ambi ous announcement to move grounds, it was only natural that the playing ambi ons
should be raised. In 1991/92, Terry Rowles was recruited as manager from Mangotsfield United
who signed a whole new team and set about reviving the club's fortunes on the playing field. In the
last season at Teignmouth Road, they finished as runners-up to Weston-Super-Mare, playing their
last ever match at Teignmouth Road on 20 April 1992.

Season 1992/93 was to prove by far the most successful in the club's history and it was heralded
by the move to the new Hand Stadium. This superb development included an all weather pitch,
training facili es, a 300-seater stand, ered terracing around the whole ground with an excellent
clubhouse and dressing room facili es. Gates increased to an average of 421 and the team ended
up winning the league tle in style, remaining unbeaten and scoring 137 goals in only 38 matches.
The season ended with a first ever League Cup Final appearance and elec on to the Beazer Homes
League followed to round off a superb first season at the new ground.

In their first season in the Beazer Homes Midland Division, they finished a creditable fi h a er
having to start the campaign with a new manager, Steve Fey, and a brand new team. A er just one
season the club were transferred across to the Southern Division, finishing 9th in 1997/98 before
being switched back to the Midland Division for the 1998/99 season. The switch clearly benefited
the club as they managed to win the Midland Division Championship a er a wonderful season in
which they also won the Somerset Premier Cup. In their first season in the Premier Division the
club finished in a creditable eighth place and fully se led into the Dr Martens League, with
ambi ous plans to develop the ground into a sports and social complex to serve the local
community. The club sadly suffered relega on back to the Western Division at the end of 2000/01,
despite winning the Somerset Premier Cup that season and again in 2001/02. An era ended in
September 2004 when manager Steve Fey le the club a er 11 years in charge and was replaced
by former Plymouth Argyle and Torquay United manager, Kevin Hodges. He, in turn, le the club
in October 2005, with Clevedon top of the league table, to become assistant manager at Coca-Cola
League club, Yeovil Town. Former Bristol Rovers player and coach, Phil Bater, took over the job,
becoming only the fourth manager at the club in 19 years, and completed the job started by Kevin
Hodges by building on his success and guiding the club to their second Southern League
Championship success and back into the Premier Division.
In November 2006 Clevedon Town played in the first round proper of The FA Cup for the first me
in their history, losing 1-4 at home to Coca-Cola League 2 team Chester City in front of a record
a endance at The Hand Stadium of 2,261. In their first season back in the Premier Division
Clevedon consolidated with an 18th place finish in 2006/07, and in 2007/08 improved on this by
finishing 11th. However, despite this improvement, and leading us to the final of The Southern
League Errea Cup, where we lost 1-4 on aggregate to Hillingdon Borough, manager Phil Bater
resigned at the end of the season, leaving his assistant Wayne Powell to take over the reins for
season 2008/09. With many senior players also leaving at the same me Wayne was forced to
rebuild the side, and on a much reduced budget, but despite his best efforts The Seasiders ended